Exactly one year ago Australians braved the how to vote cards, ate or avoided democracy sausages and used a pencil to help write the next part of the Australian story.
In the months leading up to the 2025 federal election, papers, airwaves and social media platforms were full of talk about nuclear.
Then Opposition Leader Peter Dutton dubbed the 2025 federal election ‘a referendum on nuclear power’. It was the biggest policy difference between the two major political parties. The Coalition promised to build multiple nuclear reactors at seven sites across Australia while Labor, the Green and most independents opposed this nuclear plan and strongly supported renewables.
Nuclear proponents spent large, promised much and did their best to sidestep scrutiny over cost, timing, water, waste and more.
Environment groups joined with trade unions, public health experts, First Nation representatives and community members from regions targeted for reactors to make the case for a renewable energy future, free from nuclear risk and delays.
The message was clear: Nuclear is too risky, too expensive and too slow.
And at the end of months of talk, talkback, information stalls, protests and public forums, Australia voted.
And voted unequivocally no to nuclear.
The Coalition had its worst defeat since the formation of the Liberal Party in 1944, and nuclear champion Peter Dutton became the first sitting federal Opposition Leader in Australian history to lose their own seat at a general election. Seven News political editor Mark Riley described the Coalition result as ‘catastrophic’, adding “the party that chose nuclear energy as its policy has exploded in a nuclear bomb set on them by the voters tonight."
Voters saw the Coalition’s nuclear fantasy for what it was: a toxic furphy designed only to prolong the life of coal and gas. They made a conscious and clear decision to reject nuclear power and provide our politicians with a clear mandate to get on with harnessing Australia’s abundant renewable energy resources to power our country.
Renewables already meet around half of Australia’s electricity needs, and this figure is growing every day.
Responsible renewables mean lasting regional jobs, low carbon and proven power.
Renewables also mean energy independence and energy security. Ships in the Strait of Hormuz might stop, but the wind and sun do not.
One year ago, Australians had a clear energy choice - and right across the nation we made a clear energy decision – our energy future is renewable, not radioactive.